PMHS Wrestlers to Compete at County Championships

Contributed by Tom Anello, head coach of the Raiders varsity wrestling team.

The Patchogue-Medford Varsity Wrestling team competed in the League I Championships this past weekend and crowned five all-league wrestlers.

Seniors Armani Hendrickson and Eddie Gomez, Junior Kevin Rodriguez, Sophomore Jake Horton and eighth-grader Bobby Pease all qualified for the Section XI Wrestling Championships that will be held at Stony Brook University this weekend.

Armani Hendrickson, who is 30-3 this season, has been a 4-year starter and was a League I runner-up for the second consecutive season. Eddie Gomez, 31-2 this season, became first year Head Varsity Wrestling Coach Tom Anello’s first League I champion. The League Title was Eddie's sixth first-place finish this year. Kevin Rodriguez, 29-5 this season, wrestled in his 6th tournament finals this season and despite a tough loss, has high hopes for next weekend. Jake Horton, 24-8 this season, finshed his second varsity season with a third place finish. Bobby Pease, 22-13 this season, finished strong in his second season as a varsity wrestler with a fourth place finish that will qualify him as an alternate at the County Championships this weekend.

All of the wrestlers who qualified for the Raiders are highly regarded in the county; and are all looking to build on their All-League status by becoming All-County this weekend.

The Suffolk County Championships start on Friday at 10 a.m. at Stony Brook University.